Hanging With Riley :-) (Photos in Picture Section under Fans and Friends)
Up at 5 AM baby and into the Wild104 studio by 7 AM!! A great start to my day!! Wicked sweet to be hanging out with Riley! I hope you caught the show! I stopped at THE WHALE afterwards to chill for a bit with my old pal Steve Willet! I just think the whole DJ process is wicked cool and I love being around it! I dashed home and recouped before going out for pancakes! It's becoming a tradition with me... after every morning radio interview I have to top it off with pancakes! There goes my special K diet today!!! haha Now, I am taking some time to prepare for tomorrow's gig at Castaway's in Ithaca! I've never been there and I'm always excited to play new venues and meet new people!!! Alrighty, I hope your day is killer!!! Mine surely is... so far!!!!!!!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/30/07
Good Morning Sunshine
Sunny day and happy thoughts!!! I've been singing for a couple hours this morning and will keep the momentum going after my break! I have band practice tonight but will be home early for a change so I can get my sleep on early! I need to be wide awake to be at Wild 104 by 7 AM!! hehe I can't wait! Joey McIntyre was there today with Riley and Ill be hanging with Riley tomorrow so how cool is that?! It would have been cool if I got hooked up with tickets to Joey's show at Magic City tonight but since I'm still paying my dues...I have to practice, practice, practice so I can be on my own tour someday!! Well everyone have a sweet day!! xoxo
Always Love & Music,~ Dena~
3/29/07
Going Wild
Yup it's true!! Maybe you read Dena ~News~ on my homepage before you got into my journal today but word is I'll be the local celebrity guest host on Wild 104 FM with Riley in the morning this Friday!!! This will be my 4th time visiting the station and I just love it! Riley has made me feel so comfortable because he is comfortable and a pro at what he does! Anyways it should be loads of fun so I hope you tune in! I hope to catch a couple of my younger brother's performances in the musical South Pacific over the weekend! I'm always so busy with my own stuff but he is very supportive of me and I'm definitely gonna be there for him! I'll have to do some juggling cuz I have practices with my band and a gig on Saturday so we'll see how it goes! It's a sunny day and I'm gonna help watch my lil cousin again! She makes me laugh and long to be a carefree lil girl when I'm with her!!! Be sweet and let the good times roll!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/28/07
Music = Smiles
Music for me is my sweet escape but very much my blessed reality! I can't go a day without it or I get a headache! I listen to everything too!!! I find I pay closer attention to songs more than I did before because I've learned a lot from writing my own songs! I understand the process a song goes through with recording, editing and mixing!! It really has enhanced how I listen to music but the bottom line is... if it's hooky and you can't get it out of your head..... it's a hit song! haha I also agree with Clay Aiken..."A song is like a smile. If you meet someone from another country, even if you don't speak the same language, you know what a smile means. A song works the same way. Music produces feelings that need no translation."
Yeah baby!!! Music rOcKs my sOcKs!!! 
xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/2707
Sunday News
Dinner at Red Lobster with my parents and the sunshine that came out later in the afternoon helped turn my mood around!! My mom and I even took a walk in the fresh air, connected together by sharing the earplugs to my IPOD! It was funny and fun!! That just pumped me up even further to work out more and ride the stationary bike when I got home! Topped it off with a long shower later on and some TV. All in all a relaxing Sunday! I'm looking forward to my week ahead! I'll be doing something really cool on Friday morning from about 7-8:30 AM!!! (wink, wink) Then I have the Battle of the Bands at Castaways in Ithaca on Saturday! (check out my shows section for details) Everything has a way of working out if you are just patient! That's what I keep telling myself! haha xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/26/07
Come What May
Today I will be looking for the faintest of light to push back the dark clouds! I definitely need a pick me up! My life has too many loose ends flapping in the wind I think and I'm buggin'! but nevermind all that... on the up side... band practice RoCkEd, acoustic practice was GrEaT, and piano practice was FuN!!! An early start with all that got me home early, to bed early and to dreamland early. ok dreamland was more like nightmareland which could explain my headache this morning! haha For my cure, I will take the focus off of myself and pray for hearts out there in need of repair. My next step is unclear for today so the way to be is spontaneous! Come what may! xoxo
Always Love and Music, ~Dena~
3/25/07
Twist and Shout
Well....I didn't take over the world last night! haha Sooo another night, another attempt! Today I feel alive and hope to make a difference! I'd love to inspire someone in some way today! Some days nothing happens and nothing changes and although it's safe it can be boring. Like a roller coaster ride I'd like to enjoy the twists and turns life hands me, screaming, crying and laughing! If only I could avoid drama (which usually starts with someone's opinion that isn't really grounded in facts or they just don't have any credibility) and stay completely focused. It's a skill I'm learning! I'm gonna spend some quality time with my younger bro today and then I have band practice tonite! I love having plans! Everyone have a nice day!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/24/07
Pinky and The Brain
Last night was fun! Finally had band practice and it's been quite a while, cuz usually the band practices without me, so it was nice to work together again. It's one thing to practice on your own day after day, but its totally different when you come together as a group. It can be hard work, but it's like a stress release for me as well. Tonight I have an acoustic practice and I'll be practicing during the day so I guess that’s a full day of rehearsal. I am feeling a bit more tired today than usual so maybe I'll slip in a nap somewhere. Lately when people ask me "what are you doing tonight" I think of the cartoon Pinky and the Brain. They do the same thing every night and so do I (for the most part). They are trying to take over the world, and I guess you could say that’s what I'm working for too, in a musical sense of course haha. Hope everyone has a great Friday!! xoxo
Pinky: Gee, Brain, what are we going to do tonight?
Brain: The same thing we do every night...try to take over the world!
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/23/07
So Beautiful To Me
Today is another beautiful Spring-like day to enjoy! I had more errands to run and business to attend to first and now I get to watch my adorable lil cousin this afternoon for a lil bit! It's an upbeat day and I feel like singing and dancing... so I will do just that!! Band practice is on my schedule tonite so I'm looking forward to that!!! but for now...busy, busy, busy!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/22/07
First Day Of Spring
I was so happy to see the sun shining for the 1st day of Spring! I had appointments and errands to run today and I just love driving around in the car with the CD player blasting. I'm having my video "Our Song" put on DVD to have for sale at my shows! Very cool indeed!! I'm trying to figure out how to get my video on my iPOD and I'm so technically challenged with that stuff it's not funny! I need some smarty pants to hook me up with that! It's my day off and its a beautiful day so I'm not gonna worry about unnecessary stuff! Stay happy I say!!! So everybody enjoy your Wednesday!!! Sing like there's no tomorrow too!!!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/21/07
Myself
To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting. -- e.e.cummings
I'm keep trying to fit in and to belong but it can't be at the sacrifice of being true to myself. So If you are frustrated with me that I'm not as available or I'm not as accessible...just don't take it personal. I'm busy doing what I love and I'm happy and if you love me then you should be happy for me! Working here on my music! Hope you're doing whatever makes you happy too!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/20/07
Got Food?!
Can you believe the most fun thing I did on Sunday was grocery shop with my mom?! Hey, if you aren't in a hurry, grocery shopping can be a great place to lose yourself in thought while you wander up & down the isles. No one else is paying attention to you cuz they are all on a mission! haha Meal planning for the week takes some creative thinking as well! I like having control over the foods I buy and what I'm eating. I'm pretty sure that if I weren’t destined for a career in music I would be a nutritionist! My day drifted by and then ended with a melancholy feeling that something is missing. It's that one thing you can't put your finger on but it's there. Umm yeah. So this morning I shook it off and without hesitation I started working on my live stuff! It's what I'm doing right now! Well, not exactly right now cuz right now I'm writing in my journal! haha but off I go so have a nice day and stay happy people!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/19/07
Yesterday
I spent my afternoon babysitting my 2 1/2yr old cutie patootie cousin and enjoyed every minute of it! It was new experience for both of us. She barely knows me and I've never babysat before but we worked it out! haha although I did wear green that was about it on the whole Irish deal! There was no luck of the Irish for me either (maybe because I'm not Irish - haha) as proven when I dropped my pink razor cell phone in the toilet! GRRRRRRRRRR!!! The value of the items that keep getting taken by the porcelain gods are going up. A while back it was my hair brush, now my phone! Good thing I didn't lose my cousin down the drain when I was helping her on the potty! She is priceless!!!!!!!! I was in the studio last night to rehearse with my guitar player but it was cut short due to circumstances beyond our control. Like the electricity cutting out and the heat going off! The weather increasingly worsened with snow making driving dangerous too. So more non-Irish luck! I don't know how much snow we have at this point but I'm soooooooo over it! Well take care and have a happy Sunday! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~3/18/07
Kiss me, I'm Irish! ((JUST KIDDING!!!)) I'm not Irish! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/17/07
Snow, Snow Go Away....
Looks like we are getting a winter snow storm after having a spring like teaser all week. So much for flowers blooming and birds chirping! Good grief...I'm back to being stuck inside! My dad said it's getting slick on the roads and it’s only 12:30 in the afternoon. Oh crapperz! I look forward to the weekend’s cuz it puts me into the studio to work. I know I'm weird...everyone else looks forward to his or her weekends to party and relax! eh.....now what happens? More alone time than I want or need but alas...I will fill my day with practice, practice, practice! A side of exercise and probably some tv shows I can catch up on that are saved on tape! On the positive side...the snow is pretty to look at! haha Peace be with you everyone! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/16/07
Connections
Nothing like purposely choosing to go out to dinner at a great steak place and then ordering fish (salmon) but hey, that's me! I do like steak but I have really been trying to stick to fish & chicken with lots of veggies these days! Steak is maybe once a month now. Actually I've been pretty much keeping the same diet my Grandpa Joe did for years after having a major heart attack when he was 56 yrs. old. He had to change his diet, also giving up salt and caffeine and he lived till he was 81! He went through a lot over those years but he never wavered with his diet and he was a tiny man! Tough as nails though!!! I adored and admired my Grandpa and without realizing it I find myself choosing his life saving diet! I loved him dearly and I wrote "Dream Of Angels" on my EP about him! I wish he were here still to laugh with! He was an inspiration to me in more ways then one and I hope he knows it where he is!!! Well, that's pretty deep...haha.... I need to get busy now and sing! So this song off my EP is for you too Grandpa!!!!! "Missing You" Have a great day everyone!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/15/07
Cool Beans
Gotta love it! Everything is quietly falling into place, lil by lil! I'm not sure when I can talk about it openly but it's all good! Partnerships are forming...gigs are multiplying...music is in the air!!!! Patience (with a capital P) is the name of the game. I've got the strength and power to do what I need to do! But if you are wallowing in negative energy, then stay away from me!!! I have better things to do with my time and some big decisions require all of my focus right now. I'd love to have your support though and I need it!!!! Plus I do remember those that do! ;-) xoxo Opportunities, Possibilities, Choices, Decisions, Directions, ....ain't life grand?! haha These things affect me daily all while I'm seriously floating on a cloud! I'm not stressing, I'm not worried and I'm definitely not rushing anywhere! What I am doing is working hard at my craft and letting the powers that be do their magic! It's that confident feeling or sixth sense that I am right where I need to be. And here's a cool quote I thought I would share from The Yau Man..."Love many, trust few, do wrong to none." I try! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ I don't know about you but the time change always throws me a curve for a couple days till I can adjust. It is nice having daylight longer in the evening though. Today is a beautiful sunny day in my neighborhood! It's got that feeling of season change in the air and new beginnings! I am looking for a personally rewarding type of day today and for my week ahead! I've got that can-do attitude and I'm feeling unstoppable! (smiles) Thoughtful encouragement kicks me into high gear too...especially when I am reminded by the one major player in my life that has the foresight to see the future and who has my back! Can't beat that!!! I hope your attitude is winning and your cup of hope is spilling over!! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ I don't use rejection or failure as my motivation. At least I didn't think I did. Although...when someone close to me tells me I should have a back up plan just in case my music career doesn't work out, that just kills me. People with back up plans usually end up using them. Suddenly the word fearless comes to mind! You have to believe you can succeed because if you don't, no one else will. That's just how I've been feeling lately, like I'm never going to let anyone take away my dreams. It's sad that it's human nature to wish failure on others, but I think we all do it, even if we don't say it. We don't want to feel less than someone else. We don't want to question why we didn't reach our full potential but someone else did. Thetas why I know in my heart, I'm never giving up. Have a fabulous Sunday!! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Sometimes changing my physical setting can re-inspire my creative juices and for me it's getting out of the house and into the studio that does it! Like I said yesterday...I am lucky to be home and work and make my own schedule but I am much more inspired to be around creative people in the studio cuz it brings me up! So last night I got the shot I needed! It's like a B12 shot...bringing my energy level up but I definitely need to take vitamins on a regular basis! haha Guys in a band have each other to bounce off of but I am basically alone. It's different. I count on my "team" to keep me sane! And soon as I see them...they know they are gonna be fine too! Cuz it's that gut feeling we have and we know we are on the right path!!!Which brings me to what I'm committed to! Making music!!! And in twenty years I will still be committed cuz there is nothing else I want to do! It's All About My Music! xoxo "Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. Tell me what you are committed to, and I'll tell you what you will be in twenty years. We become whatever we are committed to." Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ I'm lucky I know what I want and I'm super lucky that I have the opportunity to do it freely! My days are basically all mine. So I truly try to make the best of it since I'm able to make my own schedule! I know it won't always be like this! Actually I prefer to be on a tight schedule cuz it keeps me focused and disciplined! I'm good with deadlines and that get it done or else type scenario cuz when I work on my own...there is always that lil voice that says...oh do it later...it can wait! grrrr So I write my "to do" stuff down and cross it off as I go! and right now the list says to give the piano keys a good workout and prepare for rehearsal tonight with my guitar player! Hope your friday is fabulous! Xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ What a fun night of musical theatre!!! Hairspray was wonderful!!! I had amazing seats (dead center near the stage) and I was surrounded by my pals from EPAC!!! It was fun hanging with my girl Ashley too cuz it like never happens anymore! She has a boyfriend and I'm married to my music so it's rare we get to chill! I signed a few autographs myself which is always fun!! Feedback was positive coming from some unexpected places too cuz just when you think no one is paying attention, to my career, I find out they are! It's pretty sweet! The support system we share from EPAC is quietly but firmly in place! Pat and Lou should be very proud of what they have accomplished for this community!!! If you pay close attention you can get a peek of our wonderful EPAC theatre at the beginning and end of my video where it was filmed! (media section) Well I'll be working on my music all of today! I'm really in need of a hard push to strengthen up my vocals!!! Outlook is great and everything is beautiful to me!!! And Happy Birthday to my older bro Jay!!! This is #27? Yikes!!! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Hair day for me! Yep, getting my highlights pumped up once again and a trim! I really love having someone touch my head and play with my hair. I wish I were having a facial, a body massage, a manicure and pedicure too! Damn that would be a fun day!!! One of my future goals is to have a spa day every so often to treat myself!!! Who wants to join me?! haha I'm going with a girlfriend of mine to go see the Broadway Theatre League Tour of Hairspray tonight! One of my past EPAC theatre friends is actually in the musical so the locals are all showing their support!!! The ticket is $55 to see it one time! haha Although enjoyable.... I can't help but think of when people complain about the price of a CD that they can listen to over and over and over again! haha Not to mention baby, my full length will have 18 songs on it!!! BAM!!! But I'm sure the show will be awesome and I'll probably want to dance in the isles! haha Hope your Wednesday is killer!! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Between last night's high winds and more of the same for today...schools are closed! So getting to hang out with my brother part of the day is always fun! He is looking to get a haircut from my mom right now and I'd love to have the chance to buzz him! mwahahahaha!!!! but payback wouldn't be cool for me! The winds make the temps like -20F! I can't believe we haven't lost power from winds this strong! On the 2nd floor in this old house I can feel a draft around my legs!!! So here I sit bundled up nice and warm in front of the electric heater! I'll probably end up practicing throughout the day on my own till my voice lesson later!!! Tonite is up in the air but tomorrow I have appointments to keep and plans at night! It's a rare thing so when I get to go out...I really appreciate it!!! Anyways, keep warm wherever you are!!! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Of course there are varying degrees of happiness! haha but happiness is not something that I see off in the distance teasing me or a future goal! Happiness is now!!! I've had people tell me that they can't tell if I'm happy or that I'm hard to read! I don't know why that is and it's a shame everyone can't see that cheerleader inside of me jumping up and down with joy! haha I can be totally serious and still be happy! I don't want to miss a minute of happiness even when it's clouded by unhappy things that hit us up daily. I want to push aside excuses, complaints, and judgements and be happy where I am. I hope you can do that for yourself too! Will I be happier when I get signed to a record label....... hell yeah!!! haha but my happiness isn't dependent on that! So have a happy Monday people!!! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Yesterday was my return to what makes me tick! The minute I stepped into the studio I was reborn! ok ok laugh but I'm telling ya the truth! It's just one of those things that you know! Seeing my favorite faces and feeling missed works better for my morale and feeling alive again then any medication I could take for this upper respiratory infection! Makes me wanna sing.... All You Need Is Love!! haha So I feel like my batteries have been recharged! Ok some credit goes to the pancake breakfast I had early this morning with my pops! Yeah well, no one can do it for me so I'm gonna let the joy and fulfillment that is mine to express just flow today!!! Be authentic, original and happy!!!! xoxo I went to bed early last night so I got up early this morning! I mean why not right?! My schedule got broke a couple weeks ago and fighting with myself to keep the same one was just frustrating. So I finally said to myself...try doing normal and see how you feel! haha I'm actually going to get to rehearse later with my guitar player and brush up on piano...learning more songs! I need to get my vocals up to par now that my healthy ole self is slowly returning! One last review of my songs is in order so the first of next week they can be sent to Disc Makers! My horoscope forecast for 2007 says this is my year...all year! Good fortune is in my orbit! Woo Hoo!! So even though I probably should fasten my seatbelt...I really am ready to FLY!!!!! Have the best Saturday people! Off I go! xoxo Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/14/07
Freewill
3/13/07
Spring Ahead
3/12/07
Motivation
3/11/07
Commitment
3/10/07
Keeping It Tight
3/09/07
Everything Is Beautiful
3/08/07
HAIR DAY
3/07/07
Windy
3/06/07
Happiness Is Now
3/05/07
P.S. Happy Birthday Pops!!!
Esprit De Corps
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
3/04/07
Sit Tight or FLY? 
3/03/07
Uninterrupted Girl
I'm still struggling to get back on top of my game after this damn upper respiratory infection shot me down. I'm quickly exhausted after running through my sets so it's all about building my stamina back up again. I pride myself on eating good and taking good care of myself and it's humbling to think something beyond my control can set me back like this. But in my favor I have plenty of uninterrupted time to do my thing so I can rest in-between all I need to! But too much time alone can't be that good even though music is my saving grace! Right now I would welcome a distraction cuz it's getting pretty lonely being me. Hope your friday is killer though! Remember to love and laugh and keep that optimism working for ya! xoxo
3/02/07
Time Marches On
Happy month of March everyone! And I really mean that!!! Could this be the month my cd comes out?! I don't know...maybe yes, maybe no! Rushing it is not an option and with something this important it must be perfect!! Time is flying by but my feet are firmly on the ground and I'm not going anywhere until the time is right. So hang tight with me and it will be so worth the wait!! This month holds promise and therefore I will keep doing what I do, paying my dues and pursuing what I love!!!!!! I hope you have promising dreams to work toward cuz it really gives your life purpose! xoxo
3/01/07
~ Past Journal Entries ~
Sept. '08
Aug. '08
July '08
June '08
May '08
April '08
March '08
